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Characterisation of Kenana cattle breed and its production environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

I.A. Yousif  and
A.A. Fadl El- Moula
I.A. Yousif
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
A.A. Fadl El- Moula
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
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Summary

The Kenana cattle breed originates from Bos indicus or humped cattle. The name Kenana came from the traditional owners, the Kenana people, who are mainly nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. The light blue-gray coat is the characteristic color of Kenana cattle. Calves are frequently born with a brown-red coat that tends to change to a permanent gray at three to six months of age. At maturity the average body weights of males and females range from 300–500 kg and 250–350 kg respectively. The total population of Kenana and Butana cattle as major milk producers comprises 25% of the whole cattle population of Sudan. The Kenana homeland is the delta between the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The main system of production is the range system which includes the pastoral and semi-pastoral types. The nature of the nomadism in Kenana is relatively mild. The average milk production per lactation (198–257 days) varies between 1 400 kg and 2 100 kg respectively and maximum production is attained at seven to eight years of age.

Resumen

La raza vacuna Kenana proviene del Bos indicus o vacuno con joroba. El nombre Kenana le fue dado por los propietarios tradicionales, los Kenana, que pertenecen a tribus principalmente nómadas o semi-nómadas. El color azul-gris pálido es la característica del manto de esta raza. Las terneras suelen nacer con un manto marrón rojizo que tiende a cambiar hacia un gris permanente a partir de los tres a seis meses de edad. En la madurez el peso medio corporal de los machos y hembras varia entre 300–500 kg y entre 250–350 kg, respectivamente. La población total de Kenana y Butana como mayor producción lechera comprende el 25% de la población total de vacuno de Sudan. La zona de Kenana se encuentra en el delta entre el Nilo Blanco y el Nilo Azul. El principal sistema de producción es el mixto, que incluye los tipos pastoral y semi-pastoral. El nomadismo en la zona de Kenana es relativamente bajo. La media de producción de leche por lactación (198–257 días) varía entre 1.400 kg y 2.100 kg respectivamente y la producción máxima se obtiene a los siete u ocho años de edad.

Keywords

PopulationSystems of productionMilk performanceGenetic improvement
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 38 , April 2006 , pp. 47 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 0000

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References

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